Running websites

[YaSO]

I started as a software engineer/programmer, but I do a lot of web work nowadays. I hang out a lot on sites like http://www.sitepoint.com. Hanging out places like these and reading articles and stuff, I find that significant number of people make living by running websites. It's not like they are opening up online shops, but they are really focusing on running sites and getting traffic. They make money through affiliate programs like AdSense and they make living that way. Apparently, you can make more than Ok living if you do it right. Running websites ... is it a career? Is it considered as a career? If so, how do you call it?

[dpetersam]

IMO, if it's sustainable, profitable, and legal, I guess it can be defined as a career. To be sustainable though, I imagine you need good content and that can be labor-intensive.

[YaSO]

To be sustainable though, I imagine you need good content and that can be labor-intensive.
Being sustainable is the question. I'm just guessing, but I get the feeling that lawyers and doctors can sort of repeat what they have been doing to be where they are, but web, IT is changing everyday. The cycle is really short and you need to keep up with it. I suppose running websites and making money can be defined as a career, but as you pointed out, sustainability is ... a big question.